Homemade Marshmallows

So, I made homemade marshmallows. My mom calls me the messiest cook on the planet. She constantly follows me around with a broom and a dust pan, sweeping up remnants of soon-to be recipes. But it’s not my fault. I swear! Sure, I’ll admit that I can be messy sometimes, but it’s only because our kitchen doesn’t have enough room for me. I’m a big boy, and big boys need big kitchens to cook and bake in. And when there’s not enough room, things go flying everywhere, regardless if there’s a garbage bowl or not.

This weekend, my mother was following me around with that broom and dust pan more than she wanted to; she falls under the category of “obsessive compulsive” clean freak. I was tackling something I hadn’t made in forever- marshmallows, and for any of you who’ve made the stuff, you know how messy the process can be. And boy did I hear it from my mother, “This kitchen better be as spotless as it was before you got in here!”

Luckily the kitchen was spotless after I finished wiping down the countertops four times and after washing every single sticky, marshmallow-y dish, wire whisk, spoon, and silicon spatula in the sink. Oh how much I loathe washing dishes… The thought of having to wash the stuff all on my own, every single time I make something, is horrendous! I think every food blogger should be given a nice dSLR camera [with accessories] (I’ve been eyeing this one and this one for quite a while…), a second Kitchen Aid mixer (because one is never enough!), a huge kitchen, and a personal dishwasher. I should be realistic, but oh if life was like that, I wouldn’t be struggling to take half-descent photos with a cheap Canon point-and-shoot camera, and I wouldn’t hear any complaining from my mother that the kitchen is an absolute pigsty.

Speaking of camera… Christmahanaquanzadan Santa wasn’t good to me this year, he left a gift card, some clothing, a couple checks for my college applications, and a nice pair of shoes. No dSLR camera… And guess what? If Santa wants to see another batch of cookies next year, he’d better know what to come with by my birthday, or his butt is going to be freezing outside next Christmas, while I’m microwaving / roasting marshmallows and Petit Écolier cookies to make the most sophisticated and delicious s’mores that you will ever have in your entire life.

I might give santa some hot cocoa with some marshmallows though, because I am nice, and because he did leave us a nice little kitty on Christmas Eve… Oh, and guess what we named her- that’s right, Eve. Isn’t Eve adorable?! Oops, almost forgot that I didn’t put the photo on here… Well, you’d have to say she’s adorable after clicking this link. Sorry peeps, kitty is adorable, but she’s very finicky and refuses to let me take photos of her, without moving. And I wasn’t going to post a not-so-descent photo on here…

Santa still has until my birthday to get off of my “No Cookies For You!” list. Until then, he’s staying on it and might only get hot chocolate next Christmas. Depending on my mood next year, he might get a couple marshmallows too…

Homemade Marshmallows Recipe
Although these Marshmallows may leave a small mess in your kitchen, they are quite easy to make and are perfect in hot chocolate, or between two Petit Écolier cookies. As a side note, if you only eat kosher or halal, fear not! This recipe can be made with kosher or halal unflavored gelatin. Get to marshmallow-in’! And enjoy!

*Can use kosher or halal unflavored gelatin ** Other extracts, such as almond or mint extracts can be used. In addition to flavor, you can also add food coloring.

Preparation: Oil bottom and sides of a 13- by 9- by 2-inch rectangular metal baking pan and dust bottom and sides with some confectioners’ sugar.

In bowl of a standing electric mixer or in a large bowl sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let stand to soften.

In a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, hot water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to moderate and boil mixture, without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 240°F., about 12 minutes. Remove pan from heat and pour sugar mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.

With standing or a hand-held electric mixer beat mixture on high speed until white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about 6 minutes if using standing mixer or about 10 minutes if using hand-held mixer. In a large bowl with cleaned beaters beat whites (or reconstituted powdered whites) until they just hold stiff peaks. Beat whites and vanilla into sugar mixture until just combined. Pour mixture into baking pan and sift 1/4 cup confectioners― sugar evenly over top. Cool marshmallow at room temperature, uncovered, until firm, at least 3 hours, and up to 1 day. (kamran note: the original recipe states to chill the marshmallows, you can do what you find easier. I found it easier to leave out overnight.)

Run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert pan onto a large cutting board. Lifting up 1 corner of inverted pan, with fingers loosen marshmallow and let drop onto cutting board. Take a large knife, oil it, and dust it generously with powdered sugar; trim edges of marshmallow (kamran note: don’t throw out those edges! Cut them into small pieces and put some of them into a nice cup of hot chocolate) and cut marshmallow into roughly 1-inch cubes. Sift remaining confectioners’ sugar into a large bowl and add marshmallows in batches, tossing to evenly coat.

Marshmallows keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 1 week.

Yum! I really need to make some homemade marshmallows. I made some mallow cookie for a Daring Bakers challenge, but I’m thinking some of these are in order. The store bought marshmallows just won’t do for hot cocoa.

Your marshmallows look beautiful! This is something I have been meaning to make for a while and I just have not done it yet, I need to! And don’t worry, you aren’t the only messy cook out there – I’m not exactly known for keeping everything neat and tidy while I’m cooking either….

Oh u have one of those too, a mother who loves to clean up after you. Well I for one definitely need a personal dishwasher, that would be fantastic!
Can I just say though that those marshmallows look absolutely fantastic!

lmao at you threatening Santa with no cookie! I totally agree that we should all get huge kitchens and personal dishwashers (I have a *dishwasher* but it never gets anything clean. such a pain in the butt. I wouldn’t even attempt trying to get marshamllow goo off of anything in there!)

My husband has a similar reaction every time I go in the kitchen! I feel like it works out well though… I cook for him, he cleans up for me.
Sorry you didn’t get your dSLR camera, but a kitten sounds pretty fun too!

I usually don’t care for marshmallows except the homemade kinds. They are usually more airy and fluffier. Homemade marshmallow in hot cocoa sound so good right now! But I don’t want to make it (because I don’t want to deal with the mess.) LOL Happy Holidays!

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. My mother is exactly the same, she vacuums when she’s angry. She always tells me that “a good cook’s kitchen is as clean at the end as it is in the beginning!”, nevertheless when I go to wash the dishes, I find them already clean, my mother glowering at me from beside the sink.

Smores sound delicious. I’m planning a smores party with my friends over the summer. We’re going to bake our own graham crackers, make our own marshmallows, and then use lindt chocolate to make smores. Oh, summer, can’t you come sooner?

Salaam Kamran, what a wonderful cloud of delicious fluff! I, unfortunately, have not been able to find halal gelatin. Yes, yes I found some strange looking agar-agar and other sorts of coagulants but nothing gives the smooth yet sturdy texture of gelatin. Help if you can!!!

Your marshmallows look like pillows of heaven! I made a small batch and they were edible, but sticky and somewhat weepy. I know that’s an awful way to describe a sweet treat, but it is what it is. I don’t like it when a dish defeats me, especially on a second try, so I will make marshmallows again at some point, but at least I discovered a way to make so-so marshmallows at least look better: hand torch!

Ha ha. I know all about kitchen mess. You should see what I can do to a kitchen, then I go to bed and my husband cleans up. The deal is “he gets to EAT like on one else in Nashville” EVERY day. He agrees. Although sometimes I help too. I recently made marshmallow cream for my famous christmas fudge which was sticky, gooey and I probably wont’ do that again. Next Christmas you HAVE to make the fudge. You give that to Santa and you will get your camera.

anatomy – the brand that I used to make the batch pictured above is Halal. It is called Rossmoor Edible Gelatine. I found it in a local Pakistani grocery store for $1.99. Because there are no photos of the Gelatin on google I took the privilege to take one of the bottle… Here’s a photo of it

I am not sure what the gelatin is made out of as the instructions are only in English, and everything else is in Urdu.

If you cannot find that gelatin, you can also use kosher gelatin which also results in a great marshmallow; just make sure it’s kosher and is made of things like fish, or anything that counts as “safe” for a halal eater.

Good luck finding the gelatin!

angela – I made Santa macarons! Maybe he’s not too fond of the French… But that fudge! You need to share that recipe with me. I’ll be making a trip to your site to see if it’s on there…

I couldn’t even begin to describe how long marshmallows have been on my to-make list. Even bought a bottle of the pricey [atleast in India] Karo, but I haven’t had the chance yet! I will make them soon!!

I tend to mess up the kitchen as well, and I’m scared about what mom would say if I ever make these marshmallows that are created just to get on the nerves of the clean freaks!